Liberal Arts Services

Plan II students thrive in leadership roles: Student Regent, Student Government President, President of the Senate of College Councils and Editors of The Daily Texan in 2011-2012.

The School of Undergraduate Studies and the University Honors Center offer a free, three-day program for talented rising seniors.

Posted: February 1, 2012

Plan II junior, John D. Rutkauskas was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Board of Regents as the 2011/2012 student regent. John is a Plan II Honors/French/Finance and Business Honors major. His term as student regent begins on June 1, 2011. As student regents, John's role will be to act as the liaison between the UT students and the Board of Regents. Student regents attend regents meetings but do not have a vote.

Plan II junior, Natalie Butler, was recently elected as the president of the University of Texas at Austin Student Government. Natalie is a 4th year Plan II Honors, Government, and Communication Studies major from Tempe, Arizona. Natalie and her Vice-President, Ashley Baker, have a platform of goals they will work to achieve in their time in office. They hope to get students more involved in the budget processes on campus, improve relationships with student organizations, work to make transportation easier, keep campus safe, prioritize health and wellness, and make sure UT is equitable for all students.

Viviana Aldous, a Plan II and Philosophy junior, was elected as editor of the Daily Texan. Viviana worked for The Daily Texan since her freshman year. She was a reporter for three semesters, coverning topics ranging from the tuition hikes to Plan B contraceptive, and last year as an associate news editor.

Carisa Nietsche, a Plan II rising senior, was elected as the president of the Senate of College Councils in February. In addition to getting students involved in the budget process, Nietsche said as president, her vision for Senate is to elevate the councils’ impact on campus. Nietsche is on the Liberal Arts Council, in Texas Orange Jackets and is a Plan II Peer Adviser. She previously served as the Executive Director of Senate, 2010-11; co-chair of the Council Representation Ad-hoc, 2010-11; Faculty Affairs Committee Chair, 2009-10; Curriculum Committee At-Large Member, 2008-09; Senate “At-Large of the Year,” 2008-09.